Real Britain

from

£

850

See both cityscapes and scenic landscapes on this brief tour of Britain taking in the highlights of England Scotland and Wales. The lively pace of this 5-night tour allows you to cover a lot of Britain in a short space of time as you journey from London to the Welsh capital of Cardiff, vibrant Liverpool, historic Edinburgh and the medieval city of York before returning to London. Iconic sites are in abundance including Cardiff and Edinburgh Castles, Stonehenge, York Minster and the English Lake District.

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For our first day we head west to the stone monoliths at Stonehenge whose centuries-old myths have yet to be fully revealed. The elegant Georgian architecture of Bath takes centre stage during our visit to this famous spa town where we'll see the Abbey and visit the Roman baths before crossing the Severn Estuary to Cardiff, capital of Wales. Delve into the proud culture and heritage of the Welsh as you embark on an orientation of the city to see the Millennium Stadium and the medieval Cardiff Castle in the heart of the city. Tonight, we celebrate the beginning of an epic adventure through Britain at a Welcome Reception with top pub grub.

Overnight: Clayton Hotel, Cardiff

Meals: Pub dinner included

Day 2 Historic Ludlow and the Beatles' Liverpool

Today we make our way through the Welsh border marches to the charming town of Ludlow home to characterful half-timbered Tudor house, a traditional cobbled market square, medieval walls and historic castle – this is quintessential England. Later we meander north through the Shropshire Hills and green Cheshire landscapes to the bold British city of Liverpool, hometown of the 'Fab Four' and home to a wealth of Beatles' history and heritage spots such as the Cavern Club. Enjoy some free-time this evening to explore this vibrant city.

Overnight: Mercure Atlantic Tower, Liverpool

Meals: Breakfast included

Day 3 Lake District to Edinburgh via Gretna Green

Heading North we pass through the enchanting landscapes of England’s Lake District providing us with a scenic backdrop for our leisurely drive north to Scotland; this region inspired the centuries-old writings of such literary greats as William Wordsworth, who declared the village of Grasmere "the loveliest spot that man hath ever found". We stop at the quaint border town of Gretna Green where "Blacksmith Priests" would marry eloping English couples over the Marriage Anvil. Later, we arrive in enchanting city of Edinburgh - our home for the next two nights. If your visit coincides with the Edinburgh Festival, enjoy rousing performances at the spectacular Edinburgh Tattoo in the city's striking castle grounds.

Overnight: Leonardo Royal, Edinburgh

Meals: Breakfast included

Day 4 Edinburgh Sight Seeing and Free Time

This morning, we are joined by a local specialist who'll take us on an included city sightseeing tour to discover the elegance of this ancient city as we pass from the Georgian New Town to see the cobbled streets of the medieval Old Town and the Royal Mile. View the Palace of Holyroodhouse and Arthur's Seat before enjoying an informative and engaging guided visit inside Edinburgh Castle itself. Your choice of sightseeing means you can choose to visit Edinburgh's Camera Obscura instead of the castle. Later spend free time exploring Edinburgh independently perhaps visiting one or more of the world-class museums and galleries or join your Travel Director on an optional experience to visit the Royal Yacht Britannia. Tonight, why not attend a lively Scottish banquet with traditional haggis and bagpipes?

Overnight: Leonardo Royal, Edinburgh

Meals: Breakfast included

Day 5 Hadrian's Wall and historic York

Departing Edinburgh we pass south through the rolling hills of the Scottish borders region and then past the northern frontier of the Roman Empire at Hadrian's Wall. We cross the River Tyne, venturing south to the ancient grandiose city of York, whose origins hark back to Roman times. Here we can explore the medieval city; walk along the famous Shambles where the ancient buildings lean over the cobbled street below and see the magnificent York Minster, Northern Europe's largest gothic cathedral. This evening, join a local family for hearty British hospitality and a home-cooked farewell dinner in their country home.

Overnight: Novotel York Hotel, York

Meals: Breakfast and farewell dinner included

Day 6 Shakespeare’s Stratford-upon-Avon

On our final day we make our way South in to the heart of England; we head for Stratford-upon-Avon, a charming town picturesquely located on the banks of the river Avon and home to a wealth of heritage sites dedicated to the town’s most famous resident, the great bard himself, William Shakespeare. We gain insight in to his life and times as we visit the Shakespeare's Birthplace exhibition and Visitor Centre as well as seeing Anne Hathaway's thatched cottage. Later we return to London where your memorable holiday ends.

*Journey times and distances are estimates and are based on the direct route between the start location and end location for each day of the itinerary, where applicable. They do not include detours or stops for sightseeing.

Optional extras

Pre or post tour hotel accommodation in London.

Airport transfers (private or Express rail tickets).

Rail travel to/from London before/after your tour.

Your tour already includes a comprehensive sightseeing program however some additional excursions may be available to enhance your trip further - these are fully optional and bookable during your tour.